JPH0425807A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate two-stage operations and tentative detaining state at the time of attaching and detaching and to decease inserting and pulling forces by providing a detaining pawl and a slider in the outer peripheral part of the ferrule holder of a plug and providing a beam part with a detaining hole on the opposite surface of the plug receiving frame of an adapter. CONSTITUTION:The beam 11 of the adapter 1 is forcibly flared by a tapered part 8 of a projecting part 7 of the plug and the detaining pawl is detained to the detaining hole 12 when the slider 6 of the plug 2 is held by hand and is inserted into the adapter 1. The projecting part 7 fits into a groove 13. The beam 11 is held forcibly flared and is received in this state by the pawl 5 and, therefore, the fitting is executed without returning the beam 11 even once and without the tentative detaining state in this process. The tapered part 9 of the projecting part 7 collides against the tapered part 11 and forcibly flared the beam 11 when the slider 6 is pulled from the adapter 11. The pawl 5 is, therefore, disengaged form the hole 12. The plug 2 is removed from the adapter 1 with one stage of the operation by pulling the slider 6 in this state.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an optical connector for connecting optical cables,
Related to optical connectors that can be inserted and removed with one touch.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of optical connector has been used for connecting optical cables in optical communications, etc., and recently, a snap-on type connector that can be inserted or removed with one touch has been developed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an optical connector showing an example of such a conventional optical connector.

As shown in Figure 4, the conventional optical connector has a plug 2,
It consists of an adapter 1 to which plugs 2 are attached from both sides. Plug 2 has ferrule 4 and this ferrule 4
A ferrule holder 3A that holds the ferrule 4, a locking claw 27 provided on both sides, an opening slider 28 with a tapered portion 29 formed therein, and a spring receiver 30 formed on both sides of the ferrule 4.
The adapter 1 has a structure including a split sleeve 14A provided in the middle, a spring 33, a plug receiving frame 10A, and a beam 31 in which a locking hole 32 is formed.

In such an optical connector, when the plug 2 is inserted into the adapter 1, the locking claws 27 of the plug 2 push out the beam 31, and then the locking claws 27 engage with the locking holes 32 of the beam 31, and the plug 2 It is held in adapter 1. On the other hand, when attaching and detaching,
When you first push the aperture slider 28 forward, the aperture slider 28
Since the tapered portion 29 pushes the beam 31 open, the locking pawl 27 is disengaged from the locking hole 32. Further, at this time, since a force is applied to push the spring 33 or the spring receiver 30 backward, the ferrule holder 3A slides backward at this moment. In this state, the engagement is completely released, so when the opening slider 28 is pulled rearward, the plug 2 is removed from the adapter 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another conventional optical connector.

As shown in FIG. 5, this optical connector also consists of a plaque 2 and an adapter 1, and the plaque 2 has a ferrule holder "3B" having a ferrule 4 in the center, a protrusion 37 and a locking groove 38.
On the other hand, the adapter 1 has a plug receiving frame 10B and a beam 3 having a locking pawl 35 and a collar 36.
4 and a sleeve 14.

In such an optical connector, when the plug 2 is inserted into the adapter 1, the convex portion 37 hits the collar 36 and pushes the beam 34 apart. After tightening, the locking claw 35 of the beam 34 locks 71438
The plug 2 is held in the adapter 1 by fitting into the adapter 1 . On the other hand, during attachment and detachment, when the slider 6 is pulled, the convex portion 37 hits the collar 36 again, and the beam 34 is pushed out.

Therefore, the locking claw 35 is released from the lock 71138. Furthermore, by pulling the slider 6, the plug 2 is removed from the adapter 1.

6(a) to 6(c) are respectively diagrams of the fitting process of the optical connector adapter and plug in FIG. 5, and FIGS. 7(a) and (b) are also similar to FIG. 5. It is a fitting process diagram of the adapter and the plug in the modified optical connector shown in FIG.

Fig. 6 (a> shows the initial state, (b) and (c) show the next state and final state, respectively. Fig. 7 (a> shows the initial state, and Fig. 7 (b) shows the next state and final state, respectively. Represents the next state.
The details of these operations are explained in the section on issues.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-described first conventional optical connector (FIG. 4), when attaching and detaching, the aperture slider 28 is first pushed, and then the aperture slider 28 is pulled to remove the plug 2 from the adapter 1. The disadvantage is that the operation is in two stages.

Furthermore, in the conventional second optical connector (Fig. 5), when the plug 2 is inserted into the adapter 1, the locking groove 38 is closed as shown in Fig. 6(a).
In the case shown in (C), the slider 6 moves back and forth. Therefore, if the slider 38 is attached to the ferrule holder 3
If the plug 2 is protruding toward the front with respect to B, pushing the plug 2 a little into the adapter 1 changes the state from the initial state shown in FIG. 6(a) to the next state shown in FIG. 6(b). That is, the locking pawl 35 is caught on the protrusion 39 and becomes temporarily locked. Originally, they should be pushed in further to reach the final state shown in FIG. 6(c), but there is a drawback that this temporarily locked state may be mistaken for complete fitting.

Furthermore, when inserting the plug 2 into the adapter 1, the locking groove 38
is as shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), when the plug 2 is pushed into the adapter 1, the locking claw 3 is inserted into the locking groove 38.
5 is locked, as shown in FIG. 7(b).
At 0, the beam 34 continues to be stretched out. Therefore, there are disadvantages in that more force is applied during insertion and removal and the durability of the beam 34 is poor.

Furthermore, the width of the adapter 2 is increased by the provision of the protrusion 39 in FIGS. 6(a) to (c), and in addition, in the conventional example shown in FIG. 5, the adapter 1 has the plug receiving frame 10B on the outside of the beam 34. The disadvantage is that the size of the optical connector becomes large.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector that can eliminate such a two-step operation when attaching and detaching a plug, prevent the occurrence of a temporary locking state, and realize a small insertion/extraction force.

[Means to solve the problem]

The optical connector of the present invention includes a ferrule holder that holds a ferrule in the center, and a plug that is provided with a locking claw and a slider formed on the outer periphery of the ferrule holder, and a sleeve that guides the ferrule, which are arranged at the center. and a beam portion having a locking hole that fits into a locking claw of the plug on a surface sandwiching the sleeve.

〔Example〕

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical connector showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment has an adapter 1 and a plug 2.
The plug 2 consists of a ferrule holder 3 holding an optical cable ferrule 4 in the center, locking claws 5 formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the ferrule holder 3, a slider 6, and a slider 6. It includes a convex portion 7 having a tapered portion 8 and a tapered portion 9 which are integrated and arranged forward of the locking pawl 5. The adapter 1 also includes a sleeve 14 for guiding the ferrule 4, a plug receiving frame 10, and a beam 11 in which locking holes 12 are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the sleeve 14 to fit into the locking claws 5 of the plug 2. There is. Further, a tapered portion 17 is formed at the entrance of the beam 11 of the adapter 1, and a tapered portion 16 is formed on the inner surface behind the locking hole 12.
A groove 13 is formed to accommodate the protrusion 7 of the plug 2.

Next, the operation of such an optical connector will be explained.

First, during insertion, when the slider 6 of the plug 2 is held and inserted into the adapter 1, the convex portion 7 of the plug 2 hits the beam 11 of the adapter 1, and the tapered portion 8 pushes the beam 11 apart. After that, the locking pawl 5 slides onto the inner surface 15 of the beam 11.

If this is pushed further, the locking pawl 5 will be locked in the locking hole 12 formed in the beam 11. At this time, the convex portion 7 fits into the armature 13. In this process, the beam 1 is expanded by the convex portion 7.
Since the locking claws 5 stop the receivers with the beams 1 being pushed apart as they are, fitting can be performed without the beams 11 ever returning.

On the other hand, when attaching and detaching, when the slider 6 of the plug 2 is pulled from the adapter 1, the tapered part 9 of the convex part 7 hits the tapered part 16 of the beam 13 and pushes the beam 11 apart, so that the locking claw 5
is removed from the locking hole 12. By simply pulling the slider 6, the plug 2 can be removed from the adapter 1.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an optical connector showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the plug 2 includes a ferrule holder 3 that holds a ferrule 4, a slider 6 forming a slide portion 21, a locking pawl 5, and a convex portion 19. ,
The ferrule holder 3 is formed with a dovetail groove 20 and a narrow groove 22 through which the convex portion 19 moves. Also, adapter 1
is a plug receiving frame 10, a locking hole 12 and a tapered portion 17.
A beam 11 is formed with a locking hole 12 formed in the inner wall of the beam 11.
This structure has a taper 711I8 that reaches 711I8, and a sleeve 14. In the slider 6 described above, the slide portion 21 slides along the dovetail groove 20 and moves back and forth.

Further, since the convex portion 19 is integrated with the slider 6, it moves in the same way. In this convex portion 19, a narrow groove 22 is provided on an extension of the dovetail groove 20 to the rear portions 23A and 23B of the locking pawl 5 so that the lower portion of the convex portion 19 can fit therein.

Next, the operation of the optical connector described above will be explained.

First, during insertion, when the slider 6 is held and pushed forward, the convex portion 19 hits the locking pawl 5, and the plug 2 moves forward.

When the ferrule holder 3 of the plug 2 enters the plug receiving frame 10 of the adapter 1, the locking claw 5 engages the tapered portion 1 of the beam 11.
Beam 11 does not move until it hits point 7. Further, when the slider 6 is pushed, the locking pawl 5 hits the tapered portion 17 and spreads the beam 11, and then fits into the locking hole 12. Is the convex part 19 tapered at the same time? It fits in 1t18. That is, these plugs 2
The adapter 1 is locked with the rear parts 23A and 23B of the locking claw 5.
and the locking hole 12. Beam 1 in the structure
1 is pushed apart only when it hits the locking pawl 5, so the load is greatly reduced.

On the other hand, when attaching and detaching an optical connector, when the slider 6 is pulled, the convex portion 19 hits the tapered edge 18 and spreads out the beam 11. As a result, the locking claw 5 is disengaged from the locking hole 12, so if the slider 6 is continued to be pulled, the plug 2 will be detached from the adapter 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an optical connector showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the plug 2 includes a ferrule holder 3 holding a ferrule 4, a locking claw not formed on the ferrule holder 3, and a beam having a tapered portion 8 and a protrusion 7. 24 and a slider 6. Further, the adapter 1 has a structure including a plug receiving frame 10, a beam 11 in which a locking hole 12, a flange 25, and a recess 26 are formed, and a sleeve 14.

Next, the operation of such an optical connector will be explained.

First, during insertion, the plug 2 is inserted into the adapter 1 while holding the slider 6. At this time, the tapered part 1 of the beam 11
Although the protrusion hits 7, the beam 11 is pushed wider by the tapered portion 8. After that, the locking claw 5 is attached to the inner surface 15 of the beam].
However, if you push it further, the locking pawl 5 will be locked in the locking hole 12. At this time, the protrusion 7 is inserted into the recess 26 at the rear of the flange 25.
It fits in. That is, in this process, the locking pawl 5 is stopped while the beam 11 that has been pushed apart by the protrusion 7 is kept spread out, so that the fitting can be performed without the beam 11 ever returning.

On the other hand, when attaching and detaching the optical connector, the slider 6 is pulled from the adapter 1. As a result, the tapered portion 8 of the protrusion 7 hits the flange 25 and pushes the beam 11 wider, so that the locking pawl 5 is disengaged from the locking hole 12. By simply pulling the slider 6, the plug 2 can be removed from the adapter.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the optical connector of the present invention has a structure in which a locking hole is provided in the beam of the adapter and a locking claw is provided in the plug, so that the beam never returns when the slider of the plug is pushed during insertion. By doing this, the temporary locking condition is eliminated,
Moreover, there is no need for a protrusion to be locked by the locking pawl, so there is an advantage that the car can be shaped accordingly. The present invention is unique in that by providing a convex portion after the locking pawl to spread out the beam, the beam can only be pushed out at the locking pawl, reducing the load on the beam and the insertion/extraction force for inserting and removing the plug into and out of the adapter. It has the effect of becoming smaller. Furthermore, since the present invention has a structure in which the beams are pushed apart when the slider is pulled, there is an effect that the plug can be pulled out from the adapter in one step.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical connector showing a first embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an optical connector showing a second embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an optical connector showing a third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an optical connector showing a conventional example; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another conventional optical connector; FIG. 6(a)- (c) is a diagram of the mating process of the optical connector adapter and plug in Figure 5, and Figure 7 (a) respectively.
, (b) are respectively views of the process of fitting the adapter and the plug in the modified optical connector shown in FIG. 1... Adapter, 2... Plug, 3... Ferrule holder, 4... Ferrule, 5... Locking claw, 6...
... Slider, 7... Convex portion, 8, 9, 16.17...
Tapered portion, 10... Plug receiving frame, 11. ...beam,
12...Locking hole, 13...Groove, 14...Sleeve, 15...Inner surface, 18...Tapered groove, one...
Convex portion, 20... Dovetail groove, 21... Slide portion, 22.
... Thin groove, 23A, 23B... Rear part of claw, 24... Beam, 25... Flange, 26... Recess.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A plug including a ferrule holder that holds a ferrule in the center and a locking pawl and a slider formed on the outer periphery of the ferrule holder, and a sleeve that guides the ferrule. 1. An optical connector comprising: an adapter having a plug receiving frame arranged therein, and a beam portion having a locking hole that fits into a locking claw of the plug on a surface sandwiching the sleeve. 2. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the beam portion of the adapter has a groove with a slope on an inner wall. 3. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the slider of the plug slides to the outside of the ferrule holder. 4. The tip of the slider of the plug has a mountain shape with a slope in the portion corresponding to the beam portion, and a space is formed at the rear of the mountain portion so that the locking pawl can move. The optical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: 5. The beam of the adapter having the locking hole has a tapered groove continuing to the locking hole on the inner wall, and the ferrule holder of the plug having a locking claw has a narrow groove and the narrow groove at the rear of the locking claw. 2. The optical connector according to claim 1, further comprising a dovetail groove continuous to the groove. 6. The slider that slides into the dovetail groove has a protrusion at its tip that has approximately the same width as the tapered groove of the beam, and has a slider that fits into the dovetail groove at the lower part of the slider. The optical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: 7. The beam of the adapter having the locking hole has a flange and a recess on the side surface, and the slider of the plug has two beams each having a protrusion with a slope at its tip. The optical connector according to claim 1.